title: A national survey of mental health professionals concerning the causes of early infantile autism.
abstract: This study is an analysis of mental health professionals' (N = 221) attitudes with regard to the etiology of infantile autism. A random sample of members of the American Psychiatric Association reveals a strong endorsement of a biogenic perspective. Attitudes are analyzed further with regard to variation by school of thought and number of years treating autistic patients.
authors.affiliation: Sociology Department, Villanova University, PA 19085.
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Gallagher
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Byrne
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D008426:Maternal Deprivation; D012059:Rejection, Psychology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012931:Social Environment